Antibiotic resistance documented in South Tyrol care facility

Researchers conducting a point prevalence screening in 2022 at a long-term care facility in Bolzano identified a collection of multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales isolates from both residents and staff, according to a study published this week in Nature. The genomic characterisation of these bacteria, carried out by an international research team, represents the first detailed surveillance of this class of pathogens in the autonomous province.

Enterobacterales are a family of bacteria that cause serious infections in healthcare settings and increasingly resist standard antibiotic treatments. The Bolzano facility study provides a snapshot of a problem that extends across European long-term care settings, where elderly and immunocompromised populations face elevated risk. The research underscores the role of point prevalence screening—a snapshot survey conducted at a single moment—in identifying resistance patterns before they spread.